Pin locking mechanism for a surgical instrument

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprising a handle portion, an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from the handle portion, and first and second jaw members dimensioned to clamp tissue therebetween. The first jaw member has at least one row of fasteners arranged in a row substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. A pin is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first jaw member and is movable between a first position where the engagement section is spaced from the second jaw member and a second position where the engagement section engages the second jaw member. The pin has a non-circular cross-section.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical instrument comprising:
 an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis; 
 an end effector coupled to the elongated portion, the end effector including first and second jaw members; 
 a first pin disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first jaw member; and 
 a knife having first, second, and third planar surfaces, the first and third planar surfaces opposing each other with respect to a length of the knife, wherein the first pin defines a cutout configured to receive at least a portion of the first and second planar surfaces of the knife such that the third planar surface of the knife is unobstructed by the first pin. 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pin is movable between a first position in which the first pin is spaced from the second jaw member and a second position in which the first pin engages the second jaw member. 
     
     
       3. The surgical instrument according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second pins move in a distal direction automatically when the first and second jaw members move to clamp tissue. 
     
     
       4. The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first planar surface is transverse to the second planar surface. 
     
     
       5. The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second pin. 
     
     
       6. The surgical instrument according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and second pins are spaced apart along the length of the knife. 
     
     
       7. The surgical instrument according to  claim 5 , wherein the second pin defines a cutout opposing at least the third planar surface of the knife. 
     
     
       8. The surgical instrument according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first or second pins has an L-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
       9. The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pin is at least partially circular in cross-section. 
     
     
       10. The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , wherein the first pin defines an arc of about 270 degrees. 
     
     
       11. The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw member has at least one row of fasteners transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion. 
     
     
       12. The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising two rows of fasteners, the knife disposed between the two rows of fasteners. 
     
     
       13. A surgical instrument comprising:
 an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis; 
 an end effector coupled to the elongated portion, the end effector including first and second jaw members; 
 first and second pins defining first and second cutouts, respectively; and 
 a knife including first, second, third, and fourth planar surfaces, the first and second planar surfaces opposing each other, the first and second planar surfaces extending between the third and fourth planar surfaces, wherein the first cutout of the first pin is configured to receive at least a portion of the first and third planar surfaces of the knife such that the second planar surface of the knife is unobstructed by the first pin, and the second cutout of the second pin is configured to receive at least a portion of the second and fourth planar surfaces of the knife such that the first planar surface of the knife is unobstructed by the second pin. 
 
     
     
       14. The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the third and fourth planar surfaces of the knife oppose each other. 
     
     
       15. The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second pins move in a distal direction automatically when the first and second jaw members move to clamp tissue. 
     
     
       16. The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second pins are movable between a first position in which the first and second pins are spaced from the second jaw member and a second position in which the first and second pins engage the second jaw member. 
     
     
       17. The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first or second pins has a partially circular cross-section. 
     
     
       18. The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second pins are disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first jaw member. 
     
     
       19. The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first or second pins has an L-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
       20. The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first or second pins defines an arc of about 270 degrees. 
     
     
       21. The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the first jaw member includes at least one row of fasteners transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion.